Impeller with machining access panel

Abstract

An impeller assembly is for a fluid machine, such as a compressor, and includes a first, main body and a second body. The main body includes a first section providing at least a substantial portion of either an impeller disc or an impeller cover and a second section spaced generally axially from the first section and providing a portion of the other one of the disc or the cover. A plurality of integrally formed blades extend between and connect the main body first and second sections such that the main body is generally of one piece construction. A plurality of flow channels are defined between the blades and a plurality of access openings extend into the flow channels. The second body provides a remainder of the disc or cover and is attachable to the main body to substantially form an impeller and to close all of the access openings.

1. An impeller assembly for a fluid machine, the impeller assembly comprising:
 a first, main body having a central axis and including a first section providing at least a substantial portion of one of an impeller disc and an impeller cover, a second section spaced generally axially from the first section and providing a portion of the other one of the disc and the cover, and a plurality of integrally formed blades extending between and connecting the main body first and second sections such that the main body is generally of one piece construction, the main body defining an access opening through which the plurality of integrally formed blades can be machined; and 
 a second body providing an entire remainder of the other one of the disc and the cover, the second body being attachable to the main body to substantially cover the access opening and to substantially form an impeller, 
 wherein one of the main body first and second sections includes a cylindrical hub portion, the central axis of the main body extending centrally through the hub portion, and an annular portion extending substantially radially outwardly from the hub portion, and 
 wherein the other one of the main body first and second sections includes a tubular portion disposed substantially coaxially about the hub portion and spaced apart substantially axially from the annular portion, the plurality of blades extending between and integrally connecting the tubular portion with the hub and annular portions. 
 
     
     
       2. The impeller assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein each blade has an inner end located generally proximal to the central axis, an opposing outer end, and two spaced apart sides extending generally radially between the two ends, the main body including radially-innermost portions of each one of the disc and the cover such that at least a radially-innermost portion of each one of the two sides of each blade is integrally formed with the main body first and second sections. 
     
     
       3. The impeller assembly as recited in  claim 2  wherein one of the two sides of each blade has a radially outermost portion providing a mounting surface, the second body being disposable simultaneously generally against the mounting surfaces of all of the plurality of blades. 
     
     
       4. The impeller assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein:
 the main body has an outer surface, and a plurality of flow channels, each of the flow channels being defined between a separate pair of adjacent blades; 
 the access opening comprises a plurality of access openings, each of the plurality of access openings extending between the outer surface and a separate one of the flow channels; and 
 the second body is configured to substantially close all of the access openings when the second body is attached to the main body. 
 
     
     
       5. The impeller assembly as recited in  claim 4  wherein each one of the access openings is configured to permit insertion of at least a portion of a tool into the connected channel for machining of the pair of blades defining the channel and interior portions of the disc and cover located generally between the two blades. 
     
     
       6. The impeller assembly as recited in  claim 4  wherein:
 the main body further has two opposing sides spaced apart along the central axis, each access opening extending generally axially into the main body from one of the two sides; and 
 the second body includes a generally annular plate disposeable generally against the one side of the main body as to close the access openings. 
 
     
     
       7. The impeller assembly as recited in  claim 4  wherein:
 the plurality of blades are spaced apart circumferentially about the main body axis such that each blade extends generally radially with respect to the axis, each blade having an edge surface unconnected with a remainder of the main body, each access opening being defined generally between a separate pair of adjacent blade edge surfaces; and 
 the second body includes a generally annular plate disposeable simultaneously generally against all of the blade edge surfaces to close the access openings. 
 
     
     
       8. The impeller assembly as recited in  claim 4  wherein each one of the flow channels has an inlet located generally proximal to the central axis and an outlet located generally distally from the central axis. 
     
     
       9. The impeller assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein the second body has a generally planar surface, the planar surface being disposed generally against a portion of each one of the plurality of the blades when the second body is attached to the main body. 
     
     
       10. The impeller assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein the fluid machine includes a rotatable shaft and the main body has a through bore extending axially through the body first and second sections, at least a portion of the machine shaft being disposeable within the main body through bore to couple the impeller with the machine. 
     
     
       11. The impeller assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein the second body includes a generally annular plate having inner circumferential edge surface defining a central opening, an opposing outer circumferential edge surface, and a generally planar surface extending radially between the two edge surfaces, at least one of the planar surface and the two edge surfaces being joined to the main body to attach the second body to the main body. 
     
     
       12. The impeller assembly as recited in  claim 11  wherein at least one of:
 each of the plate inner and outer edge surfaces are joined to the main body by one of welding, brazing, and mechanical fastening; and 
 at least a section of the plate interior surface is attached to the first body by one of welding, brazing, and mechanical fastening. 
 
     
     
       13. The impeller as recited in  claim 1  wherein the hub portion has an outer edge surface extending circumferentially about the axis and the tubular portion has an inner edge surface extending circumferentially about the axis, the tubular portion inner edge surface being spaced apart radially from the hub portion outer edge surface such that a generally annular opening is defined between the hub portion edge surface and the tubular portion edge surface. 
     
     
       14. The impeller assembly as recited in  claim 13  wherein the main body has a plurality of flow channels, each flow channel being defined between a separate pair of adjacent blades and fluidly connected with the annular opening. 
     
     
       15. The impeller assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein the fluid machine includes a rotatable shaft and the hub portion has two opposing axial ends and a through bore extending axially through the two ends, the through bore being sized to receive at least a portion of the shaft. 
     
     
       16. The impeller assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein:
 the main body annular and tubular portions each have an outer circumferential edge surface, the tubular portion outer edge surface being spaced radially inwardly from the annular portion outer edge surface such that each one of the plurality of blades has a side surface extending generally radially between the two outer circumferential edge surfaces, each blade side surface providing a mounting surface; and 
 the second body includes a generally annular plate having inner and outer circumferential surfaces, the inner surface defining a central opening, and a contact surface extending generally radially between the inner and outer circumferential surfaces, the plate being mountable to the main body such that the tubular portion is generally disposed within the plate central opening and the plate contact surface is generally disposed against all of the blade mounting surfaces. 
 
     
     
       17. The impeller assembly as recited in  claim 16  wherein when the second body is attached to the main body, at least one of:
 at least a portion of the plate inner circumferential edge surface is joined with the tubular portion outer circumferential edge surface; and 
 the plate contact surface is joined with at least a portion of at least one blade mounting surface. 
 
     
     
       18. The impeller assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein each blade has an elongated body with an inner end located generally proximal to the central axis, an opposing outer end, and two spaced apart sides extending generally radially between the two ends, each blade body having a radially-innermost portion disposed between the hub portion and tubular portion such that a radially-innermost section of one of the two blade body sides is integrally connected with the hub portion and a radially-innermost portion of the other one of the two blade sides is integrally connected with the tubular portion. 
     
     
       19. The impeller assembly as recited in  claim 18  wherein the radially-innermost portion of each blade is bended with respect to a remainder of the blade body such that each blade innermost portion extends at least partially along the central axis. 
     
     
       20. An impeller assembly for a fluid machine, the impeller assembly comprising:
 a first, main body having a central axis and including a first section providing at least a substantial portion of one of an impeller disc and an impeller cover, a second section spaced generally axially from the first section and providing a portion of the other one of the disc and the cover, and a plurality of integrally formed blades extending between and connecting the main body first and second sections such that the main body is generally of one piece construction; and 
 a second body providing a remainder of the other one of the disc and the cover, the second body being attachable to the main body to substantially form an impeller, 
 wherein one of the main body first and second sections includes a generally cylindrical hub portion, the main body axis extending centrally through the hub portion, and a generally annular portion extending generally radially outwardly from the hub portion; 
 wherein the other one of the main body first and second sections includes a generally tubular portion disposed generally coaxially about the hub portion and spaced apart generally axially from the annular portion, the plurality of blades extending between and integrally connecting the tubular portion with the hub and annular portions; 
 wherein the main body annular and tubular portions each have an outer circumferential edge surface, the tubular portion outer edge surface being spaced radially inwardly from the annular portion outer edge surface such that each one of the plurality of blades has a side surface extending generally radially between the two outer circumferential edge surfaces, each blade side surface providing a mounting surface; 
 wherein the second body includes a generally annular plate having inner and outer circumferential surfaces, the inner surface defining a central opening, and a contact surface extending generally radially between the inner and outer circumferential surfaces, the plate being mountable to the main body such that the tubular portion is generally disposed within the plate central opening and the plate contact surface is generally disposed against all of the blade mounting surfaces; and 
 wherein the annular portion is a first annular portion and the main body further includes a second annular portion, the second annular portion being disposed generally coaxially about the tubular portion and having an inner circumferential edge surface spaced radially outwardly from the tubular portion outer circumferential edge surface such that each blade mounting surface extends generally between the tubular portion outer surface and the second annular portion inner surface, the second body plate being disposeable generally between the tubular portion and the second annular portion. 
 
     
     
       21. The impeller assembly as recited in  claim 20  wherein when the second body is attached to the main body, the plate outer circumferential edge surface is joined with the second annular portion inner circumferential edge surface. 
     
     
       22. An impeller assembly for a fluid machine, the impeller assembly comprising:
 a first, main body having a central axis and including a first section providing at least a substantial portion of one of an impeller disc and an impeller cover, a second section spaced generally axially from the first section and providing a portion of the other one of the disc and the cover, and a plurality of integrally formed blades extending between and connecting the main body first and second sections such that the main body is generally of one piece construction; and 
 a second body providing a remainder of the other one of the disc and the cover, the second body being attachable to the main body to substantially form an impeller, 
 wherein one of the main body first and second sections includes a generally cylindrical hub portion, the main body axis extending centrally through the hub portion, and a generally annular portion extending generally radially outwardly from the hub portion; 
 wherein the other one of the main body first and second sections includes a generally tubular portion disposed generally coaxially about the hub portion and spaced apart generally axially from the annular portion, the plurality of blades extending between and integrally connecting the tubular portion with the hub and annular portions; 
 wherein the main body annular and tubular portions each have an outer circumferential edge surface, the tubular portion outer edge surface being spaced radially inwardly from the annular portion outer edge surface such that each one of the plurality of blades has a side surface extending generally radially between the two outer circumferential edge surfaces, each blade side surface providing a mounting surface; 
 wherein the second body includes a generally annular plate having inner and outer circumferential surfaces, the inner surface defining a central opening, and a contact surface extending generally radially between the inner and outer circumferential surfaces, the plate being mountable to the main body such that the tubular portion is generally disposed within the plate central opening and the plate contact surface is generally disposed against all of the blade mounting surfaces; and 
 wherein the annular portion is a first annular portion and the main body further includes a second generally annular portion, the second annular portion being disposed generally coaxially about the tubular portion such that a generally annular gap is defined between the second annular portion and the tubular portion, the gap being sized to receive at least a portion of the second body plate. 
 
     
     
       23. An impeller assembly for a fluid machine, the impeller assembly comprising:
 a first, main body having a central axis and including a first section providing at least a substantial portion of one of an impeller disc and an impeller cover, a second section spaced generally axially from the first section and providing a portion of the other one of the disc and the cover, and a plurality of integrally formed blades extending between and connecting the main body first and second sections such that the main body is generally of one piece construction; and 
 a second body providing a remainder of the other one of the disc and the cover, the second body being attachable to the main body to substantially form an impeller, 
 wherein one of the main body first and second sections includes a generally cylindrical hub portion, the main body axis extending centrally through the hub portion, and a generally annular portion extending generally radially outwardly from the hub portion; 
 wherein the other one of the main body first and second sections includes a generally tubular portion disposed generally coaxially about the hub portion and spaced apart generally axially from the annular portion, the plurality of blades extending between and integrally connecting the tubular portion with the hub and annular portions; 
 wherein the annular portion is a first annular portion and has an outer circumferential surface, the main body further has a second generally annular portion integrally formed with and extending radially outwardly from the tubular portion, the second annular portion having an outer circumferential surface spaced radially outwardly from the first annular portion outer surface such that each one of the plurality of blades has a side surface extending generally radially between the first and second annular portion outer circumferential edge surfaces, each blade side surface providing a mounting surface; and 
 wherein the second body includes a generally annular plate having inner and outer circumferential edge surfaces, the inner edge surface defining a central opening, and a contact surface extending generally radially between the inner and outer edge surfaces, the plate being mountable to the main body such that the first annular portion is generally disposed within the plate central opening and the plate contact surface is generally disposed against all of the blade mounting surfaces. 
 
     
     
       24. The impeller assembly as recited in  claim 23  wherein when the second body is attached to the main body, at least one of:
 at least a portion of the plate inner circumferential surface is joined with the tubular portion outer circumferential surface; and 
 the plate contact surface is joined with at least a portion of at least one blade contact surface. 
 
     
     
       25. The impeller assembly as recited in  claim 23  wherein the main body further includes a third annular portion disposed generally coaxially about the first annular portion and having an inner circumferential edge surface spaced radially outwardly from the first annular portion outer circumferential edge surface such that each blade mounting surface extends generally between the first annular portion outer surface and the third annular portion inner surface, the second body plate being disposeable generally between the first and third annular portions. 
     
     
       26. The impeller assembly as recited in  claim 25  wherein the plate outer circumferential surface is joined with the third annular portion inner circumferential surface when the second body is attached to the main body. 
     
     
       27. The impeller assembly as recited in  claim 23  wherein the main body further includes a third generally annular portion disposed generally coaxially about the first annular portion such that a generally annular gap is defined between the first and third annular portions, the gap being sized to receive at least a portion of the second body plate.